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School Board

Sally Harris, Chair - District 2

Sally Harris was elected to the School Board, in District 2, in 2014. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with more than 26,000 employees. More...

Tamara P. Shamburger, Vice Chair - District 5

Tamara Shamburger was elected to the School Board, in District 5, in 2016. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with more than 26,000 employees. More...

Lynn L. Gray - District 7

Gray was a teacher and instructional leader for 26 years in Hillsborough County. Her educational highlights include being named Teacher of the Year and Peer Counselor of the Year. She spent 16 years as an instructor and department head in Hillsborough County Public Schools, nine years of instruction and department head at Jesuit High School and three years as a part time adjunct instructor for JMJ of Tampa Bay Homeschooling. Lynn Gray taught AP U.S. History, Advanced U.S. History, Psychology and Global Studies for 9th-12th grade. More...

April Griffin - District 6

April Griffin was elected to the School Board (District 6 - countywide) in 2006, and reelected in 2010. Mrs. Griffin was elected School Board chair in 2013, after serving as vice chair in 2012. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county's largest employer with more than 26,000 employees. More...

Melissa Snively - District 4

Melissa Snively was elected to the Hillsborough County School Board (District 4) in 2014. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with more than 26,000 employees. More...

Cindy Stuart - District 3

Cindy Stuart was elected to the School Board (District 3) in 2012. Mrs. Stuart is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county's largest employer with more than 26,000 employees. More...

Susan L. Valdes - District 1

Susan L. Valdes was elected to the School Board (District 1) in 2004, and was reelected in 2008 and 2012. Mrs. Valdes served as School Board chair in 2010, and vice chair in 2009 and 2014. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which also is the county's largest employer with more than 26,000 employees. More...

Hillsborough County Public Schools will use walk-through metal detection security devices and hand wands at our upcoming school board meetings.Employees and visitors to 901 E. Kennedy Blvd. will be required to go through security screening as they enter the school board meeting. The safety of our staff and visitors is a top priority for Hillsborough County Public Schools.

Board Meetings

Aired on Television

School Board meetings are aired on the Tampa Bay Arts & Education Network, Spectrum Cable channel 635 and Frontier channel 32, live and replays on Tuesdays and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Webcasts

School Board meetings since July 2012 have been indexed and are available online. Choose a meeting you wish to view, click on an agenda item, and the video will skip ahead to that portion of the video. Click here to select from the meeting archive.

Responsibilities and Authority of the Board

The school board is responsible for the organization and control of the district’s public schools and is empowered to determine the policies necessary for the effective operation and the general improvement of the school system. The school board is a public corporate entity and can take action only when the board is meeting in official public session and a quorum is present. An individual member of the school board has authority to take official action only when sitting as a member of the school board in public session except when the school board specifically authorizes the member to act. The school board is not bound in any way by any action on the part of an individual board member or an employee except when such statement or action is in compliance with the public action of the school board.

Organization and Officers of the Board

A chair and vice-chair are elected annually by the School Board of Hillsborough County at its organizational meeting held on the third Tuesday after the first Monday in November; however, if the chair becomes vacant, the school board elects a chair at the next regular or special meeting.

The chair presides at all school board meetings, appoints committees and performs such other duties prescribed by law or by action of the school board. The vice-chair presides in the absence of the chair and performs other duties of the chair as required by circumstances. The chair and vice-chair are bonded in the manner prescribed by the State Board of Education.

The superintendent, as provided by law, is the secretary and executive officer of the school board. At any organizational meeting, the superintendent acts as chair until the organization of the school board is completed.

Sally
Harris, Chair - District 2

Sally Harris was elected to the School Board, in District 2, in 2014. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with more than 26,000 employees.

She is the longtime owner and operator of the Circle C Ranch Academy. Raised in South Tampa, Ms. Harris began her professional career at the age of 16 working at the Tampa Post Office Federal Credit Union while attending Robinson High School. Today she is a nationally recognized child care provider, educator and speaker addressing issues from early child education, special needs programs and marriage enrichment.

She is also widower and mother of five children, three by birth and two adopted.

January 2018

Organizational Assignments:

Children’s Board

Lowry Park Zoological Society Board

FSBA Legislative Liaison

Florida School Boards Association Board of Directors (alternate)

Member of the Florida Career Pathways Network’s Board of Directors

Tamara
P.
Shamburger, Vice Chair - District 5

Tamara Shamburger was elected to the School Board, in District 5, in 2016. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with more than 26,000 employees.

Tamara is a proud Tampa native. She is the product of Hillsborough County Public Schools and is a proud graduate of Bloomingdale Senior High School. Tamara has a Liberal Arts degree from Hillsborough Community College; Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Florida; and a well-earned Master of Business Administration (MBA) from St. Leo University.

Tamara's career has spanned the last twenty years working in the Insurance Industry. Tamara brings to the board professionalism, business acumen, as well as her extensive experience in Management, Insurance Litigation, Contracts, Budgets, Leadership, and good old common sense. Tamara strives to bring the valued perspective of an outsider, unbiasedly focused on all aspects of the District, in her role as a School Board member.

Tamara is the proud mother of one daughter.

November 2016

Organizational Assignments:

Hillsborough Education Foundation

Juvenile Justice Board Circuit 13 (alternate)

Hillsborough County Dept. of Children’s Services

Lynn
L.
Gray - District 7

Gray was a teacher and instructional leader for 26 years in Hillsborough County. Her educational highlights include being named Teacher of the Year and Peer Counselor of the Year. She spent 16 years as an instructor and department head in Hillsborough County Public Schools, nine years of instruction and department head at Jesuit High School and three years as a part time adjunct instructor for JMJ of Tampa Bay Homeschooling. Lynn Gray taught AP U.S. History, Advanced U.S. History, Psychology and Global Studies for 9th-12th grade.

Lynn also owns her own business called Take...The First Step, and is President of a non-profit children fitness advocacy club called: Take...The First Step Club. Lynn enjoys gardening and sewing and is a long distance runner.

Lynn Gray has been a strong advocate for building student relationships, early and continuing literacy education, plus an increased emphasis on physical wellness.

November 2016

Organizational Assignments:

Healthy Start Coalition

Arts Council of Hillsborough County

April
Griffin - District 6

April Griffin was elected to the School Board (District 6 - countywide) in 2006, and reelected in 2010. Mrs. Griffin was elected School Board chair in 2013, after serving as vice chair in 2012. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county's largest employer with more than 26,000 employees..

She represents the School Board on the Hillsborough County Council of Governments, Hillsborough Kids Healthcare Foundation, and Juvenile Justice Board, Circuit 13. She is a Tampa Chamber of Commerce Leadership Tampa alumna and a Rotary International, Temple Terrace chapter, member.

She has been a member of the PTA, a classroom volunteer, and active in her children's schools for many years. Prior to her full-time commitment to the school board, she was a successful business owner and longtime child and elder advocate. The Weekly Planet (now Creative Loafing) honored her with a "Best of The Bay" award for her humanitarian work with the medically needy. She is also a published author with her contribution to the book "Who's Schooling Who?"

Mrs. Griffin is a lifetime resident of Hillsborough County and educated in Hillsborough County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Studies with a Public Leadership track from Eckerd College. She has been married to Brian Griffin for 25 years and they are the proud parents of two sons educated in Hillsborough County public schools.

Melissa
Snively - District 4

Melissa Snively was elected to the Hillsborough County School Board (District 4) in 2014. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with more than 26,000 employees.

She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a B.A. in English, and a Minor in Secondary Education. She has owned and operated her own business in Lithia since 2001, where she employs eight professionals.

She has served on numerous community organizations including: the Junior League of Tampa, the Community Roundtable of Brandon, PTA/PTSA, and the Brandon Outreach Clinic. Melissa has been a BSA Cub Scout volunteer for several years and currently serves on the Timucua District training team, as well as on the Gulf Ridge Council board of directors as an area chairman. She was also the 2011-2012 Chairwoman of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Small Business of the Year Award recipient, and a finalist for the Outstanding Leader Award Presented by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. She is past president of the Tampa Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and serves on the board of directors for the Florida Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors as the Political Action Committee Chair.

She and her husband, David, have been married since 1999 and have four children - all of whom attend public school in Hillsborough County.

November 2014

Organizational Assignments:

Council of Governments (COG)

Central Florida Public School Boards Coalition

Tampa Theatre

Value Adjustment Board (alternate)

Boy Scouts of America Greater Tampa Bay Area Council

Brandon Regional Hospital Board

Cindy
Stuart - District 3

Cindy Stuart was elected to the School Board (District 3) in 2012. Mrs. Stuart is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a total budget of $2.9 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county's largest employer with more than 26,000 employees.

Raised in Tampa, Mrs. Stuart is a proud graduate of A.P. Leto Comprehensive High School. She worked full-time to put herself through college and became the first member of her family to graduate from a university. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in 1995 from Florida International University and was immediately hired by a Miami company as a project manager in the field of insurance software development. After several years, she married and returned to Tampa with her young family. Her children attend Hillsborough County public schools.

She has served as a PTA president and treasurer, and guidance advocate. She also is active in community service. She participates in the annual Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk to Cure Breast Cancer, volunteers with her family at Metropolitan Ministries, is a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, manages a local youth softball team, coordinates her Neighborhood Watch Program, and is a Girl Scout volunteer.

Mrs. Stuart is a Tampa resident, wife, and mother of three children. She has been married to Jim Stuart for 21 years.

Dec 2016

Organizational Assignments:

David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts Board of Trustees

Hillsborough Education Foundation (alternate)

Juvenile Justice Board, Circuit 13

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Safe & Sound Hillsborough

Susan
L.
Valdes - District 1

Susan L. Valdes was elected to the Hillsborough County School Board (District 1) in November, 2004, and was re-elected in August 2008 and in November, 2012. Mrs. Valdes became School Board Chair on November 17, 2009, and again on November 18, 2014, after serving as Vice Chair in 2009 and respectively in 2013. She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a budget of 3 billion dollars for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with more than 25,000 employees.

Mrs. Valdes has held many leadership positions at the national, state, and local level. She served for 6 years as the National School Board Association National Hispanic Caucus Southern Region Director, and she was re-elected as a Steering Committee member for the National School Board Association Council of Urban Boards of Education representing more than 7.5 million students. At the state level, she represented the district as the Chairman of the Central Florida Coalition, which encompasses 10 school districts representing more than 850,000 students. She previously held the seat as Vice Chairman for the Florida School Boards Association Multicultural and Diversity Committee. Currently, she serves as the representative for the District on the Florida School Board’s Association Board of Directors.

Additionally, in keeping with a promise she made in her 2004 campaign, the Back to School Fair was established to address a need of the Town & Country community. In 2015, she worked to establish a committee, Hispanic Educators for Change, which works to address the immediate needs of the growing Hispanic population in the School District. She has been on the Northwest Little League Board of Directors, the Executive Committee of the Lowry Park Zoo, and is currently Vice Chair of the Value Adjustment Board.

Mrs. Valdes is a product of Hillsborough County Public Schools. She graduated from A.P. Leto Comprehensive High School and has earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University; she was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Everest University for her service to the Tampa community. Outside of her education-related work, Mrs. Valdes has volunteered to assist the Hillsborough County Health Care Program, not only managing the clinic, but also assisting the patients with the resources available for social services assistance, all while encouraging adults to pursue their education and acquire self-sufficiency. In addition, she has been a classroom volunteer and a PTA President.

In 2015, while Chairperson of the Hillsborough County School Board, she addressed the issue of leadership at the executive level while she lead the Board through a crucial but productive collaboration with her colleagues. The eventual result was a change in leadership which soon thereafter created a culture change in the District with a new, energetic, fair, and open relationship with all of the stakeholders.

Mrs. Valdes has been immeasurably creative, dynamic, and virtually inexhaustible in her commitment to the students in her community and their families. Her dedication is unquestioned and unwavering. As a result, countless others have gone on to great personal fulfillment and professional success. As she has noted for many years, the benefit of education is powerful and immediate. Likewise, as Mrs. Valdes herself has said, “An education can never be erased.” Those who have been affected by her service and her leadership would undoubtedly attest to her ability to change lives for the better.

Continuous Notification of NondiscriminationPursuant to Title VI, Title IX, Section 504/Title II and other civil rights regulations, the School District of Hillsborough County (District) does not discriminate nor tolerate harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, genetic information or pregnancy in its educational programs, services or activities, or in its hiring or employment practices; and it will take immediate action to eliminate such harassment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects. The District also provides equal access to its facilities to the Boy Scouts and other patriotic youth groups, as required by the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act.

Website Accessibility StatementThe School District of Hillsborough County is committed to providing websites that are accessible to all of our stakeholders. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader, eye-tracking device, voice recognition software, etc.) and are experiencing difficulty accessing information on this site, the following person has been designated to handle inquiries or complaints related to the functionality or inaccessibility of online content: Dr. Pansy Houghton, Executive Officer, Compliance. 813-272-4000; pansy.houghton@sdhc.k12.fl.us; Office of the Chief of Staff, 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33602.

As required by Section 668.6076, Florida Statutes, you are hereby notified that: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. History.--s. 1, ch. 2006-232.